Pacific University President John F. Dobbs Records
Scope and Contents
This collection includes scattered correspondence and other documents, a viewbook that Dobbs compiled and used to assist in raising funds for Pacific University, and his scattered copies of annual President's and Treasurer's Reports. Much of the material illustrates the difficult financial circumstances at Pacific University during the late 1920s-1930s.
Dates
- 1929-1940
Creator
- Dobbs, John F. (John Francis) (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Pacific University owns the copyright to some, but not all, of the materials housed in its archives. Copyright for materials authored or otherwise produced as official business of Pacific University is retained by Pacific University and requires its permission for publication. Copyright status for other collection materials varies. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Biographical Note
John Francis Dobbs served as the President of Pacific University from 1924-1940. Entering his office at a time of financial difficulties for the university, he spent much of his time in office trying to raise funds.
Before coming to Pacific University, Dobbs had been a Congregationalist minister in Malden, Massachusetts. Upon arriving in Forest Grove, he embarked on an ambitious campaign to raise funds for the endowment, increase tuition rates and construct a new science building. Although the latter goal was not achieved until after his term in office, he did succeed in the first two goals. Despite the severe financial problems of the Great Depression in the 1930s, Dobbs was able to eliminate a $40,000 institutional debt, leaving the University with a $300,000 endowment at the end of his presidency. He increased enrollment to an all-time high of 348 students, stemmed the attrition rate of upperclassmen, and raised tuition by 50%.
The above information is drawn from Gary Miranda and Rick Read's Splendid Audacity: The Story of Pacific University (Seattle: 2000).
Extent
0.25 Cubic Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Summary
John Francis Dobbs served as the President of Pacific University from 1924-1940. The collection includes scattered correpondence and reports, many of which relate to the university's financial difficulties and fundraising needs during the Great Depression.
Creator
- Dobbs, John F. (John Francis) (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Pacific University President John F. Dobbs Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Eva Guggemos
- Date
- 2012
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Sponsored by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
Repository Details
Part of the Pacific University Archives Repository